Get off your couch and go hear some live music with Britainâs Got Bluegrass! Hereâs the BGS-UK monthly guide to the best gigs in the UK and Ireland in May.
John Reischman & The Jaybirds, May 12, Green Note, London
Look, we know you havenât really made plans for this Sunday night. No one has. So instead of staying in and watching Game of Thrones, why donât you pop out to Camden and check out a Grammy Award-winning mandolin player? John Reischman is one of the most respected players of the instrument in the world today, and his band The Jaybirds are coming to the end of their UK tour, meaning youâve only got one last chance to catch them. With all the style and flair youâd expect from someone who used to play with guitar legend Tony Rice, this stylish West Coast ensemble mixes old-time and bluegrass with a modern feel. Catch up with Jon Snow and his dragon queen another day.
Kaia Kater, May 10-14, nationwide
The Guardian described Kaia Kater as âwhere bluegrass meets Nina Simoneâ. Who wouldnât want to hear that? The Grenadian-Canadian (trying saying that three times quickly) will be in Milton Keynes, Gateshead, York and Bristol next week. Her most recent album, Grenades, exploring and celebrating her paternal ancestry, has been nominated for a 2019 Juno Award. (Read the BGS interview.)
Mark Knopfler May 18-30, nationwide
Football, Deptford, greasy spoon cafes — itâs fair to say that the Dire Straits manâs songs donât exactly cover the usual subjects of Americana music. But arguably no British singer-songwriter has done more than Mark Knopfler to advertise and contribute to US roots music. His mastery of everything from Celtic rock to country to blues has helped shape the musical landscape of the last four decades and the fact that his band includes celtic legends John McCusker (on fiddle) and Mike McGoldrick (on whistle) is enough to have us shouting the word âQUALITY.â Leeds, Newcastle, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham — consider yourselves very, very lucky.
Amos Lee, May 19, Union Chapel, London
His first night at Union Chapel has already sold out, so youâll need to move fast if you want to hear the soulful stylings of Amos Lee. We can only imagine how perfectly the acoustics of that beautiful old church are going to suit his fabulous voice — a voice thatâs captured the heart of almost everyone who hears it, including collaborators Norah Jones and Adele. And if you can keep a dry eye during his new song, “Little Light” — inspired by a seven-year-old friend whoâs been treated for kidney cancer — youâre a better person than we are, Gunga Din.
Milk Carton Kids, May 28 and 29, Dublin and London
Listen to Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale and itâs hard not to have the words âSimon and Garfunkelâ leap instantly to mind. With their beautiful close harmonies and thoughtful, all-too-honest lyrics, The Milk Carton Kids are the kind of musicians whoâll leave your heart scattered all over the floor. Their latest album, All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didnât Do, made critics excited, not least because of the 10-minute epic, “One More For the Road.” This is indie-folk at its most meaningful — come see them at the height of their powers.
